Networking Session #1 Facilitator
Shannon Carr, MHPS, PSS has been the Executive Director for Austin Area Mental Health Consumers (AAMHC) for the past 21 years. AAMHC provides peer support services for adults experiencing lived mental health, substance use and/or homelessness issues. Mrs. Carr was previously a Community Manager for Austin State Schools where she organized community employees in teaching independent living skills to people who have developmental disabilities and mental health issues and was the Training Coach for Texas Special Olympics where she trained coaches who worked with our Special Olympians techniques and tools to help foster these wonderful athletes. She also worked as the Coordinator for Texas Mental Health Consumers where she organized activities for the Self Help and Advocacy Center and a Community Representative for the Austin Police Department Auto Theft Intervention Team where she provided awareness to the Austin community about auto theft prevention. Mrs. Carr currently serves as the Program Committee Chair of the Central Texas African American Family Support Conference (CTAAFSC) and was appointed to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Joint Committee on Access and Forensic Services (JCAFS). She has served on the Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force, Chair of the Austin Independent School District’s School Health Advisory Council and other advisory roles that promote wellness and recovery. Mrs. Carr has experience with her own personal mental health challenges as she also gives support for her brother and sisters who also have their own recovery stories. She is a wife, mother of recently graduated twin boys, 21-and 25-year-oldgirls, a motivational speaker, a former Girl Scout leader, a church ministry leader, and a singer/manager of a gospel group known as Harmony Gospel. Mrs. Carr is originally from San Marcos, Texas and went on to continue her education at Howard University in Washington, D.C. majoring in social work with a minor in sign language before leaving 2 years into her education to care for her mother who, at that time, was fighting her battle with cancer. She is very thankful for all her trials and accomplishments which have made her stronger, patient, and able to provide opportunities of encouragement to her peers and community at large.
